Clothesline supporting device



Feb. 21, 1933. E OLSEN 1,898,788

CLOTHESLlNE SUEPQRTING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1932 INVENTOR. [W440 5. 01:54

Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES EWALD B. OLSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NE'W VYORK CLOTHESLINE SUPPORTING DEVICE Application filed Apri1'23,

This invention relates to devices for supporting a clothesline in connection wlth a window frame in such manner as to permit the extension of the line into a room through the opening in said frame to facilitate the mounting of clothes or other articles thereon; and the object of the HIVGIItlOIhIS to provide a device of the class specified 1n the form of a U-shaped or yoke-shaped arm, the free end portions of which are pivotally mounted in connection with a window frame or with a bracket secured to said frame so as to permit the inward and outward swinging movement of the arm in a horizontal plane, the crosshead or curved end port on of the arm including a pulley around which the clothesline passes; a further object being to provide means on the hinge or pivot of the arm for engaging and guiding the upper strand of the clothesline and for detachably engaging the lower strand thereof in the different positions assumed by the arm; a further object being to provide latching means for engaging the arm when extended into the room to retain the same against displacement or release of said means, permitting easy movement of the arm into an outwardly extended position; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a supporting device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the'following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are desig- 49 nated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through part of a window frame showing my improved device supported in connection therewith and indicating the method of its use.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and indicating the device in an outwardly extending position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the arm of the device in a different position.

1932 Serial No. 607,086.

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 11 of Fig.1;and,-

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of v a part of the construction which I employ.

For the purpose of illustrating the use of my invention, I have indicated in the accompanying drawing at 10 a part of a window frame as well as part of the upper sash 11 and lower sash 12. a In practice, I pro- 1., vide a bracket 13 which is L-shaped in cross sectional form and adapted to fit upon and be secured to one side of the window frame 10 with one flange of the bracket on the outer surface of the frame and the other on the surface of the frame extending into the window opening as is clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, v u

. The upperand lower ends of the bracket extend at right angles to form upper and lower bearing portions 14; and'15, said bear- 7 ing portions being also ofL-shaped cross sectional form to give strength and. rigidity thereto, and the opposed walls are apertured to receive a hinge or pivot'pin l6'headed at its upper end as seen at 17 and having a cotter pin or the like '18 at its lower end to prevent displacement. I also employ an arm 19 in the form of a U-shaped or yoke-shaped frame having a semi-circular crosshead 20, l the ends 21 of the side members of the arm 19 being apertured to receive the pin 16 and I being disposed on said'pin adjacent thebearings 1 1 and 15 as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 3/ These ends are spaced apart on the pin 16 by a sleeve or tube 22, washers 23 being employed between the ends of the tube and the ends 21 of the arm 19. The side members of the arm 19 adjacent the crosshead 20 thereof are offset laterally as seen at 24, 5 note Fig. 2 of the drawing, so as to dispose the crosshead end ofthe arm at one side of the side members of the arm to permit free operation of the clothesline 25 as will be apparent. Secured to opposite side faces of the crosshead portion of the arm 19 are re-v inforcing and bearing plates 26 and a. bolt 27 is passed through said plates and through a bushing 28 which serves to space theplates H apart centrally 'of the crosshead portion and form a bearing upon which a, clothesline pulley 29 is mounted.

Supported upon the tube 22 is a line guide and coupling member 30, which in the construction shown is made from wire, one end being fashioned to form a loop 31 encircling the tube 22 and preferably disposed in a grooved portion thereon and terminating in an outwardly projecting hook 32 in connection with which the lower end 25a is adapt ed to be mounted as seen in- Fig. 3 of the drawing. The other end of'the member has a loop 33 also encircling the sleeve 22 and preferably engaging a grooved portion therein to prevent displacement. The looped end 33 extends outwardly and includes another open loop or ring 34, in which an anti-frictional bearing and guide member 35 is supported. The upper part 25?) of the line passes through the member 35 in the operation of applying clothes to the line and removing the same therefrom and also servesto support the line when the arm 19 is swung outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

I also employ means for retaining the arm 19 in its inwardly extending position, said means consisting of a bracket 36 secured to the inner face of the window'frame and to which is pivoted a latch pawl 37 as seen at 38, note Fig. 4 of the drawing, the pawl 37 being curved upwardly at its free end as seen at 39. Adjacent the curved end, the lower surface thereof is provided with a notch 40 to receive the upper side member 1 of the arm 19 as shown in full lines in Fig.

; of the drawing when the clothesline and supporting device are disposed outwardly of the window, and in the operation of swinging the arm 19 inwardly, the pawl 37 is moveddownwardly into the full line position shown in Fig. 4:. As the arm 19 is swung inwardly, the same engages the curved end 39- of the pawl, causing the same to raise and then drop by gravity so as to engagev the upper side of the arm in the notch 40 of said pawl, thus retaining the arm against accidental displacement.

After the arm 19- is swung into the room through the window opening, the lower part 25a of the clothesline is, detached from the hook 32 so as to be free asseen in Figs. 1 and 2, to facilitate the mounting of clothes or other articles thereon and to permit the outward movement of the lower part 25a of the line by the operator. After the clothes have been supported on the line and arranged outwardly of the window frame, the lower part 250 of the line is placed upon the hook 32, and the pawl 37 disengaged from the arm, and by exerting slight lateraland outward pressure on the crosshead end 20 of the arm, the same will swing outwardly in a free and easy manner and be self-supporting in its outwardly extended position by the weight of the clothes on the line.

In this connection, it will be understood that when no clothes are supported on the line and the arm is in its outward position, the line may be tightened, or the end thereof looped around the arm 19 or one part of said arm to prevent lateral movement thereof.

A c-lothesline supporting and operating device made according to my invention is of such simple construction as to permit the manufacture thereof at low cost, thus permitting the placement of the article on the market at a very low retail selling price or within the reach of the public at large. In addition to this advantage, I provide by virtue of the manner of supporting and operating my device, a very simple and effective means of hanging clothes upon a line through a window opening by attaching the clothes to the line within the room or compartment, without danger of the. operator faliing through the window opening.

l Vhile I am aware that other devices for accomplishing this result have been devised, these devices have been in the form of clown- ,wardly swinging supports of more or less complicated construction and requiring the exertion of considerable effort on the part of theoperator to move the supporting member into different positions, especially in the outward movement thereof when the clothes are on the line. \Vhereas, with my construc tion, this result is accomplished without any effort of the operator.

It will also appear that by employing a yoke-shaped supporting arm having its free ends disposed in spaced relation in the man ner illustratechthe stresses and strains are distributed and balanced to facilitate this easy control and operation, and at the same time, provide a secure means of supporting the line in connection with the window frame.

It will also be apparent that by virtue of the construction of the bracket, the same may be mounted at either side of the window frame, the position of the pivot pin and the members on the pin being changed to suit this use, thus adapting the one. device to left and right hand uses as will be apparent, and eliminatin the necessity of forming separate parts :tor the distinct uses.

It will be understood that slight changes and modifications of the specific structure herein shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages. I Having fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

l. A clothesline supporting and operating device of the class described comprising an elongated, angle iron bracket mounted on and secured to one edge portion of the side of the window frame outwardly of the sashes therein, the ends of said bracket being turned in one direction to form spaced upper and lower bearings, a pin passed through apertures in said bearings and extending from one bearing to the other, a yoke-shaped arm, the free ends of the side members of which are mounted on said pin adjacent said bearings, a tube on the pin intermediate the side members of said arms to support the same in spaced relation, a clothesline guide and supporting unit rotatably mounted on said tube and including spaced line engaging elements, one of which constitutes an anti-frictional bearing and the other a hook with the latter of which, part of the clothesline is detachably coupled, and a pulley at the crosshead end of said yokeshaped arm around which the clothesline is passed, and the clothesline engaging said hook to support the line taut when said line is swung outwardly with respect to the window opening.

2. A clothesline supporting and operating device of the class described comprising an elongated, angle iron bracket mounted on and secured to one edge portion of the side of the window frame outwardly of the sashes therein, the ends of said bracket being turned in one direction to form spaced upper and lower bearings, a pin passed through apertures in said bearings and extending from one bearing to the other, a yoke-shaped arm, the free ends of the side members of which are mounted on said pin adjacent said bearings, a tube on the pin intermediate the side members of said arms to support the same in spaced relation, a clothesline guide and supporting unit rotatably mounted on said tube and including spaced line engaging elements, one of which constitutes an antifrictional bearing and the other a hook with the latter of which, part of the clothesline is detachably coupled and a pulley at the crosshead end of said yoke-shaped arm around which the clothesline is passed, the clothesline en aging said hook to support the line taut when said line is swung outwardly with respect to the window opening, and said unit being fashioned from a wire strand to form two loops encircling said tube, one loop terminating in Said hook and the other in a support for said anti-frictional bearing.

3. A clothesline supporting and operating device of the class described comprising an elon ated, angle iron bracket mounted on and secured to one edge portion of the side of the window frame outwardly of the sashes therein, the ends of said bracket being turned in one direction to form spaced upper and lower bearings, a pin passed through apertures in said bearings and extending from one bearing to the other, a

yoke-shaped arm,the free ends ofthe side members of which are mounted onsaid pin adjacent said bearings, a tube on the pin intermediate the side members of said arms to 1 other a hook with the latter of which, part of the clothesline is detachably coupled, and a pulley at the crosshead end of said yoke shaped arm around which the clothesline is passed, the clothesline engaging said hook to supportthe line taut when said line is swung outwardly with respect to the window opening, said yoke-shaped arm being'formed from a rod rectangular in cross sectional form, and bearing and housing plates secured to the outer surfaces of the crosshead end of said arm and forming bearings for said pulley.

4. A clothesline supporting and operating device of the class described comprising an elongated, angle iron bracket mounted on and secured to one edge portion of the side of the window frame outwardly of the sashes therein, the ends of said bracket being turned in one direction to form spaced upper and lower bearings, a pin passed through apertures in said bearings and extending from one bearing to the other, a yoke shaped arm, the free ends of the side members of which are mounted on said pin adjacent said bearings, a tube on the pin intermediate the side members of said arms to support the same in spaced relation, a clothesline guide and supporting unit rotatably mounted on said tube and including spaced line engaging elements, one of Which constitutes an antifrictional bearing and the other a hook with the latter of which, part of the clothesline is detachably coupled, and a pulley at the crosshead end of said yoke-shaped arm around which the clothesline is passed, the

clothesline engaging said hook to support the line ta ut when said line is swung outwardly with respect to the window opening,

a pivot latch device mounted on the inner' surface of the window frame and normally supported by gravity in horizontal position in alinement with the upper member of said arm when swung inwardly through the window opening, and the outer end of said device being curved upwardly to permit automatic latching engagement with said arm in the inward movement thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed'my name this 22nd day of April 1952.

EWALD B. OLSEN, 

